Pressure container

ABSTRACT

A pressure container includes a first casing, a second casing, and a sealing member. A deformable membrane is mounted in the first casing, defining a water chamber that is communicated with a water inlet in the first casing. An air chamber is delimited by the deformable membrane and the second casing. The sealing member includes an inner ring, an outer ring surrounding the inner ring, and a connecting ring connecting the inner ring with the outer ring. The inner ring, the outer ring, and the connecting ring together define a first groove and a second groove respectively on two sides of the connecting ring. A flange on an end of the deformable membrane and an open end of the first casing are sealingly received in the first groove. An open end of the second casing is sealingly received in the second groove.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pressure container. In particular,the present invention relates to a pressure container for storingpurified water.

2. Description of the Related Art

Reverse osmosis is one of the most popular methods for purifying water,as it may remove more than 95% of salts, heavy metal, and chemicalresiduals in water. Thus, reverse osmosis is widely used in biochemicalpharmaceutical manufacturing processes, electrical manufacturingprocesses, household use, etc.

The purified water obtained by reverse osmosis for household use isoften not immediately used. Therefore, the purified water is stored in apressure container for subsequent use. The pressure container iscommunicated with a faucet or the like and provides a pressure forforcing the purified water out of the pressure container. A typicalpressure container includes a first casing and a second casing. Thefirst casing includes an inlet in an end thereof. A membrane is mountedalong an inner periphery of the first casing, with a chamber forreceiving purified water being defined between a face of the membraneadjacent to the inlet and the first casing. In other words, a waterchamber for receiving purified water is defined in a side of themembrane, and an air chamber is defined in the other side of themembrane. Before use, the air chamber is filled with air to create apressure of about 7-10 psi. When purified water is filled into the waterchamber, the membrane deforms and thus causes a reduction in the volumeof the air chamber, creating a pressurized space. The larger the amountof purified water received in the water chamber, the larger the pressurein air chamber. In other words, the force for pushing the purified waterout of the water chamber is larger. Maintaining pressure in the pressurecontainer is one of the most important things.

The first casing and the second casing are usually bonded together bysimple high-frequency waves or heat-fusion, which fails to provide areliable airtight effect. As a result, the pressure in the air chamberof the pressure container significantly drops within a short time.Inflating air into the air chamber of the pressure container isfrequently required. Further, leakage of air occurs if heat fusion iscarried out at a low temperature. Further, leakage is apt to occur inthe casings made of polypropylene that has a sparse molecular structure.Further, an airtight section that joints the first casing with thesecond casing is 8-12 mm in length, which is too short to effectivelyprevent leakage of air molecules.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a pressurecontainer comprises a first casing, a second casing, and a sealingmember. The first casing includes a closed first end and an open secondend. The closed first end of the first casing includes an inlet throughwhich water flows. A deformable membrane is mounted to an innerperiphery of the first casing, defining a water chamber that is in aside of the deformable membrane and that is communicated with the inletof the first casing. The deformable membrane includes a flange on an endthereof

The second casing includes a closed first end and an open second end. Anair chamber is delimited by the deformable membrane and the secondcasing. The sealing member includes an inner ring, an outer ringsurrounding the inner ring, and a connecting ring connecting the innerring with the outer ring. The inner ring, the outer ring, and theconnecting ring together define a first groove and a second grooverespectively on two sides of the connecting ring.

The flange of the deformable membrane and the open second end of thefirst casing are sealingly received in the first groove. The open secondend of the second casing is sealingly received in the second groove.

The outer ring includes a plurality of engaging grooves and the opensecond end of the first casing includes a plurality of engaging membersrespectively engaged in the engaging grooves. The open second end of thesecond casing includes a plurality of engaging members respectivelyengaged in the engaging grooves.

The first casing includes a plurality of ribs on an outer periphery ofthe open second end of the first casing. The pressure container furtherincludes a covering layer that covers the ribs and that is flush with anouter face of the outer ring. The second casing includes a plurality ofribs on an outer periphery of the open second end of the second casing.The pressure container further includes another covering layer thatcovers the ribs of the second casing and that is flush with the outerface of the outer ring.

A lining is mounted along an inner periphery of the second casing and aninner face of an end wall of the closed first end of the second casing.The lining is preferably made of nylon and the second casing ispreferably made of polypropylene. The lining is formed by means ofinjection molding and the second casing is then formed and bonded withthe lining by means of injection molding.

The second casing includes a valve, allowing inflation of air into theair chamber. The flange of the deformable membrane includes a protrusionon a side thereof The open second end of the first casing includes anannular groove in an end face thereof for fittingly receiving theprotrusion.

Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pressure container inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pressure container in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pressure container in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating use of thepressure container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a pressure container in accordance withthe present invention comprises a first casing 1, a second casing 2, anda sealing member 4. The first casing 1 can be made of polypropylene andis substantially bowl-like. The first casing 1 includes a closed firstend and an open second end. An inlet 11 is defined in an end wall of thefirst end of the first casing 1 and can be sealed by a removable cap 12.The first casing 1 further includes a plurality of engaging members 13on an outer periphery of the second end of the first casing 1.

The second casing 2 can be made of polypropylene and is substantiallybowl-like. The second casing 2 includes a closed first end and an opensecond end. A valve 21 is defined in an end wall of the first end of thesecond casing 2, allowing inflation of air into the pressure container.The second casing 2 further includes a plurality of engaging members 22on an outer periphery of the second end of the second casing 2. A lining23 with excellent airtight effect is provided along an inner peripheryand an inner face of the end wall of the second casing 2. Inmanufacture, the lining 23 is firstly formed by injection molding andthe second casing 2 is then formed around and bonded with the lining 23by injection molding, providing an integral structure. The lining 23 ispreferably made of nylon.

The sealing member 4 is mounted between the second end of the firstcasing 1 and the second end of the second casing 2 and provides asealing effect for the pressure container. The sealing member 4 includesan inner ring 41, an outer ring 42 surrounding and spaced from the innerring 41, and a connecting ring 43 connected between an intermediateportion of an inner periphery of the outer ring 42 and an intermediateportion of an outer periphery of the inner ring 41. The inner ring 41and the outer ring 42 extend parallel to each other, and the connectingring 43 extends in a direction perpendicular to the extending directionsof the inner ring 41 and the outer ring 42. Preferably, the inner ring41, the second ring 42, and the connecting ring 43 are integrally formedwith a mixture of polypropylene and glass fiber. The inner ring 41including a first section 410 and a second section 411 respectively ontwo sides of the connecting ring 43. A first groove 44 is definedbetween the first section 410, the outer ring 42, and the connectingring 43. A second groove 45 is defined between the second section 411,the outer ring 42, and the connecting ring 43. Further, the outer ring42 includes a plurality of engaging grooves 420.

A membrane 3 made of rubber or the like is mounted along an innerperiphery and an inner face of the end wall of the first casing 1. Themembrane 3 is also substantially bowl-like and includes a flange 31 onan outer periphery of an open end thereof.

Referring to FIG. 3, the second end of the first casing 1 is mountedinto the first groove 44, with the flange 30 of the membrane 3 beingalso received in the first groove 44. The second end of the secondcasing 2 is mounted into the second groove 45. Each engaging member 13of the first casing 1 and each engaging member 22 of the second casing 2are engaged with the associated engaging grooves 420. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the end face of the second end of the first casing 1 is inintimate contact with the flange 30 of the membrane 3. A sealing effectis provided. The flange 30 of the membrane 3 includes an annularprotrusion 31 on a side thereof The end face of the second end of thefirst casing 1 includes an annular groove 15 for fittingly receiving theannular protrusion 31, providing an improved sealing effect.

The first casing 1 and the second casing 2 are engaged with the sealingmember 4 by a hydraulic device exerting forces on the outer face of theend wall of the first casing 1 and the outer face of the end wall of thesecond casing 2. Thereafter, a covering layer 46 of a mixture ofpolypropylene and glass fiber are formed around an outer periphery ofthe second end of the first casing 1 by means of injection molding. Thecovering layer 46 has an end in intimate contact with the outer ring 42and is flush with the outer face of the outer ring 42, providing afurther sealing effect while providing an aesthetically pleasing effect.Preferably, the outer periphery of the second end of the first casing 1includes a plurality of ribs 14 to provide an improved bonding effectwith the covering layer 46 and to provide an improved sealing effect.

Similarly, a covering layer 47 of a mixture of polypropylene and glassfiber are formed around an outer periphery of the second end of thesecond casing 2 by means of injection molding. The covering layer 47 hasan end in intimate contact with the outer ring 42 and is flush with theouter face of the outer ring 42, providing a further sealing effectwhile providing an aesthetically pleasing effect. Preferably, the outerperiphery of the second end of the second casing 2 includes a pluralityof ribs 24 to provide an improved bonding effect with the covering layer47 and to provide an improved sealing effect.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, an air chamber is defined by the membrane 3and the lining 23. Referring to FIG. 4, when purified water enters thepressure container via the inlet 11 of the first casing 1, the membrane3 is deformed, forming a water chamber. Meanwhile, the volume of the airchamber is reduced and the pressure in the air chamber is increased. Thelarger the amount of purified water received in the water chamber, thelarger the pressure in air chamber. In other words, the force forpushing the purified water out of the water chamber is larger.

As mentioned above, the sealing member 4 provides grooves 44 and 45 forsealingly receiving the open ends of the first and second casings 1 and2 and the flange 31 of the membrane 3. The sealing member 4 is formed bymeans of high-temperature (about 200-250° C.) heat fusion, which iscapable of avoiding air leakage. The ribs 14 and 24 of the first andsecond casings 1 and 2 and the covering layers 46 and 47 improve thesealing effect. The lining 23 made of an airtight material (e.g., nylon)and the second casing 2 (made of, e.g., polypropylene) are integrallyformed to further improve the sealing effect. The sealing effect isfurther improved by the engaging members 13 and 22 of the first andsecond casings 1 and 2 and the engaging grooves 420 of the outer ring42. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the overall effective sealing length D ofthe pressure container is about 16-24 mm, which is twice as that of theconventional design, providing improved sealing effect.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications and variations are still possible withoutdeparting from the essence of the invention. The scope of the inventionis limited by the accompanying claims.

1. A pressure container comprising: a first casing including a closedfirst end and an open second end, the closed first end of the firstcasing including an inlet through which water flows; a deformablemembrane mounted to an inner periphery of the first casing, defining awater chamber that is in a side of the deformable membrane and that iscommunicated with the inlet of the first casing, the deformable membraneincluding a flange on an end thereof; a second casing including a closedfirst end and an open second end, an air chamber being delimited by thedeformable membrane and the second casing; a sealing member including aninner ring, an outer ring surrounding the inner ring, and a connectingring connecting the inner ring with the outer ring, the inner ring, theouter ring, and the connecting ring together defining a first groove anda second groove respectively on two sides of the connecting ring, theflange of the deformable membrane and the open second end of the firstcasing being sealingly received in the first groove, the open second endof the second casing being sealingly received in the second groove. 2.The pressure container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer ringincludes a plurality of engaging grooves, the open second end of thefirst casing including a plurality of engaging members respectivelyengaged in the engaging grooves.
 3. The pressure container as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the outer ring includes a plurality of engaging grooves,the open second end of the second casing including a plurality ofengaging members respectively engaged in the engaging grooves.
 4. Thepressure container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the open second end ofthe second casing includes a plurality of engaging members respectivelyengaged in the engaging grooves.
 5. The pressure container as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the first casing includes a plurality of ribs on anouter periphery of the open second end of the first casing, the pressurecontainer further including a covering layer that covers the ribs andthat is flush with an outer face of the outer ring.
 6. The pressurecontainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second casing includes aplurality of ribs on an outer periphery of the open second end of thesecond casing, the pressure container further including a covering layerthat covers the ribs and that is flush with an outer face of the outerring.
 7. The pressure container as claimed in claim 5 wherein thewherein the second casing includes a plurality of ribs on an outerperiphery of the open second end of the second casing, the pressurecontainer further including a covering layer that covers the ribs of thesecond casing and that is flush with the outer face of the outer ring.8. The pressure container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressurecontainer further includes a lining mounted along an inner periphery ofthe second casing and an inner face of an end wall of the closed firstend of the second casing.
 9. The pressure container as claimed in claim1 wherein the lining is made of nylon.
 10. The pressure container asclaimed in claim 9 wherein the second casing is made of polypropylene.11. The pressure container as claimed in claim 8 wherein the lining isformed by means of injection molding and the second casing is thenformed and bonded with the lining by means of injection molding.
 12. Thepressure container as claimed in claim 9 wherein the lining is formed bymeans of injection molding and the second casing is then formed andbonded with the lining by means of injection molding.
 13. The pressurecontainer as claimed in claim 10 wherein the lining is formed by meansof injection molding and the second casing is then formed and bondedwith the lining by means of injection molding.
 14. The pressurecontainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second casing includes avalve, allowing inflation of air into the air chamber.
 15. The pressurecontainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange of the deformablemembrane includes a protrusion on a side thereof, the open second end ofthe first casing including an annular groove in an end face thereof forfittingly receiving the protrusion.